Emergency Responders
Staff Requirements
Individuals who serve as CERs for the Apostolic Faith Church must complete the following requirements:
In addition, we recommend that all church workers who interact with minors in a ministry role read the document “What You Can Do About Child Abuse,” published by the Oregon Department of Human Services, publication #DHS 9061. It is available at https://apps.state.or.us/Forms/Served/de9061.pdf.
CERs must also be prepared to fulfill on an ongoing basis any additional training or recertification requirements established by the Apostolic Faith organization.
Duties
A CER should be available during each church service. He will be authorized to issue instructions, broadcast alerts, supervise medical and accident situations, initiate lockdowns, and guide evacuation procedures in event of an emergency. Thus, CERs must be thoroughly familiar with:
Record Keeping
A list of phone numbers for crisis responders is to be maintained near entries and at other easily accessible locations throughout the church facilities. The list should include the church address, and provide phone numbers for:
CERs should report any changes in their contact information to the pastor or the local safety team so the contact information lists can be updated immediately.
An Accident/Incident Report form must be filled out and submitted to the headquarters office after any accident or medical emergency in which a CER took a supervisory role.
Abuse Prevention and Reporting Policies
The Apostolic Faith organization is committed to providing a safe, secure environment for children and their families, so we make every effort to safeguard the children who have been entrusted to our care. We have zero tolerance for abuse in church programs and activities. It is the responsibility of every staff member and volunteer in the Apostolic Faith work to act in the best interest of all children in every program.
While suspicions or knowledge of abuse are extremely difficult situations, we do not have discretion in this matter: we are legally obligated to immediately fulfill our responsibilities in accordance with state requirements. According to Oregon law (the state in which this organization is registered as a corporation), mandatory reporters include ministers and school teachers, along with law enforcement personnel and medical professionals. (Oregon Statutes: ORS 419B.005, ORS 12.117) For that reason, staff members or volunteers who observe any policy violations or suspected abuse, or receive an allegation of abuse, must immediately report the matter to their ministry supervisor or the pastor.
Definition of Abuse
In general, the term “child abuse” refers to any injury to a minor not caused by accident, which results in observable and substantial impairment of a child’s ability to function, including any injury which appears to be at variance with the explanation given of the injury. This includes sexual abuse or exploitation, negligence, maltreatment, or threatened harm to a child.
Awareness
Staff members and volunteers should have a basic understanding of the characteristics of sexual predators and their behaviors in “grooming” a child for sexual abuse. Grooming is the process used by an abuser to select a child, win the child’s trust (and the trust of the child’s parent or “gatekeeper”), manipulate the child into sexual activity, and keep the child from disclosing the abuse.
Prevention Procedures
The Apostolic Faith maintains a legally-approved risk management policy regarding children and youth. The following procedures are strictly enforced:
The Apostolic Faith reserves the right to immediately dismiss any volunteer or employee who is accused of violating the procedures and guidelines established by the organization.
Failure to report a prohibited act to the designated person is a violation of this policy and grounds for termination of employment of an employee of the church. Volunteers who fail to report a prohibited act may be restricted from participation in any church activities involving children or youth.
What to Report
Reasonable grounds to report suspected abuse exist if:
Steps in Reporting
If a child or young person discloses that he/she is being abused, or his/her actions suggest that abuse is occurring, staff and volunteers are instructed to take the following steps:
Do not:
Organizational Response to Allegations of Abuse
When the pastor receives credible information suggesting that abuse has occurred, he will immediately contact Children’s Services Division or the appropriate law enforcement agency in the state. He will also inform the Superintendent General of the allegation. The church will coordinate its internal investigation with the governmental entity involved.
A designated church representative will interact with legal counsel and insurance representatives, and will respond as directed to questions from the media concerning allegations of abuse or neglect. Other staff members should refrain from comment. During the investigation the alleged abuser will not participate in any church activities involving minors.
If the internal or external investigation results in credible evidence supporting the allegations, the pastor will impose appropriate disciplinary restrictions, which may range from dismissal from duty to barring from church attendance.
Emergency Procedures
CERs must be thoroughly familiar with the following emergency procedures and be prepared to immediately implement the proper response. They will operate in conjunction with the ushers who are on duty during each service.
The following types of emergencies are presented in alphabetical order:
Accident or Medical Emergency
When an accident occurs, staff members are instructed to immediately call 911 or other appropriate emergency responder if the injury requires urgent medical attention. They should be prepared to give information concerning location, number of people involved, and the nature of the injury.
If a service is in progress, they are instructed to notify the head usher or Church Emergency Responder (CER). That person will:
When the injured or ill person has been appropriately cared for the individual who handled the situation should take the following steps:
Building Evacuation
A building evacuation is mandatory whenever a fire alarm sounds, and building occupants should exit immediately. Other situations may also arise which necessitate evacuation of the premises. In such cases, CERs, ministers, and ushers will have a primary role in keeping everyone calm during the emergency. They should do the following:
Civil Disturbance
At times, churches can be targets for demonstrations or disruptive actions. Social activist organizations or even hate groups occasionally attempt to spread their message by staging events that provoke confrontation and attract media attention. These actions may be orderly and peaceful. However, if a demonstrator or group of individuals comes onto church property for the purpose of intimidating, harassing, or threatening occupants or disrupting proceedings, CERs and ushers may need to assist in dealing with the situation. They should be prepared to:
Disruptive Person
If a person enters the church while a service is in progress and purposefully causes a disturbance, acts irrationally, or threatens physical harm, the following procedure should be followed:
After the situation has been defused, the usher or CER who handled the situation should make a record of the event using the Accident/Incident Report Form, and giving a brief description of what transpired. This record should include the names of any individuals who took part in subduing the disruptive individual. Keep this record in the church files in case there is later legal action.
If threats are made or there is any indicator that the disruptive person intends to return at a later time to retaliate, the church may impose a restraining order prohibiting the individual from coming onto church property or contacting staff or members of the church.
Earthquake
If an earthquake occurs during a service, CERs and ushers should be prepared to instruct and assist those present in taking the following steps:
Once the quake has subsided, a CER or usher should call 911. All available ushers and CERs should treat injured people in the vicinity as their level of expertise permits, remembering that anyone with a serious injury should not be moved unless there is immediate danger. Ushers and CERs should instruct those who are exiting to avoid going into or through areas where structural damage may have rendered the building unsafe.
Fire
Workers who detect a fire while a service or activity is in progress are instructed to notify the head usher or CER. That individual should take the following steps:
Hurricane/Tornado
The official hurricane season in the United States runs from June through November, but historically, the most active storms occur from August through October. Current storm advisories can be tracked online at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/.
CERs, ministers, and ushers whose churches are in hurricane/tornado zones should be familiar with the National Weather Service terminology regarding storm conditions. A Hurricane/Tornado Watch indicates that hurricane conditions are possible within 36 to 48 hours. Hurricane/Tornado Warning is an alert issued by the National Weather Service after a hurricane or tornado has been detected by radar or sighted by weather watchers or the public. The National Weather Service provides the approximate time of detection, the location of the storm, and the direction of movement. When a Hurricane/Tornado Warning is issued, prompt emergency action should be taken.
If a hurricane/tornado warning is announced during a church service, the CERs should be prepared to take the following steps:
Lockdown
If a violent person is causing or threatening deadly harm in the church, an usher or CER should call 911 immediately. Do not activate the fire alarm as this could place people in the vicinity of the intruder as they attempt to exit.
Individuals not in the immediate vicinity should be told to flee the building if this can be done safely. If flight is dangerous or impossible, people should be instructed to take the following steps:
Missing Child
If a service is in progress, the person who discovers that the child is missing should notify a CER, minister, or usher. That individual should notify the pastor. The individual who assumes control of the situation should then:
• Notify the Sunday school department leader if Sunday school is in progress.
• Contact ushers and other staff members as needed to assist with a search of the church premises.
• Notify the parent/guardian of the child of the situation and the action being taken.
• The pastor should determine if and when 911 help should be summoned. If the situation is a suspected kidnapping, contact law enforcement officials immediately.
• When the child is found, notify searchers that the situation has been resolved.
Power Outage
If a power outage occurs when a service or event is taking place in the church, CERs and/or ushers should take the following steps.
• Do not call 911 except in the case of an emergency.
• Assess the extent of the outage. If it is only in one area of the building, it may be a blown fuse or a tripped breaker. In that case, remedy the situation or report the outage to maintenance personnel.
• If the local neighborhood is dark, notify your utility company of the loss of power, and ascertain the expected duration of the outage.
• If outage continues, activate emergency lighting (if available), or obtain flashlights to assist those present in moving to a lighted location or exiting the building.
• Check restrooms and other areas for individuals who may be trapped in a dark room (frightened children, individuals with special needs, etc.)
• Before vacating the premises, assist with unplugging personal computers, non-essential electrical equipment, and appliances. Turn off non-critical equipment and lights.
• Secure the facility before exiting.
Violent Intruder
The on-duty CER along with ushers often will be the first line of defense against disruptive or potentially violent individuals. They are instructed to:
• Be alert to strangers loitering around the premises and especially watchful when unsupervised children are in the halls or other areas of the church. Be aware that attitude and body language can be indicators of a potential threat.
• Extend a personal greeting to anyone who looks suspicious or agitated, and attempt to engage the person in a conversation in order to evaluate if there is a risk.
• Be aware that violent individuals will usually come in after the service begins. Close the sanctuary doors once the prelude starts. Deny access, firmly but respectfully, to individuals who are unstable, agitated, angry, or intoxicated.
• If the person demands entry, physically resists in any way, or the situation escalates, the CER or usher should immediately call 911.
If a violent person is causing or threatening deadly harm in the building, CERs should immediately call 911. Do not activate the fire alarm or initiate a building evacuation as this could place people in the vicinity of the intruder.
Individuals who are caught in proximity to the violent intruder should do one of the following (options are listed in descending order of effectiveness):
Individuals not in the immediate vicinity should be told to flee the building if this can be done safely. If flight is dangerous or impossible, people should be instructed to take the following steps:
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